Lighter with information carrier

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a lighter, comprising a housing ( 3 ) with a fuel tank ( 2 ), a lighter head ( 4 ) with a burner device ( 6 ) and an ignition device ( 7 ). The fuel ( 5 ) in the fuel tank ( 2 ) is embodied such that information, provided on an information support ( 9 ) arranged in the fuel tank ( 2 ), is firstly hidden by the fuel ( 5 ) and is gradually made visible on use of the fuel ( 5 ).

The invention relates to a lighter according to the preamble of mainclaim 1. In particular, the present invention relates to a lighter,which is embodied as a disposable lighter.

Disposable lighters of this type are known. The German patentspecification DE 33 28 967 C2, for example, describes a gas lighter,which comprises a fuel tank, a nozzle connected thereto for the releaseof the fuel and an electrically operated ignition device, which, afterthe opening of the nozzle, generates the spark inflaming the fueldischarged from the nozzle. A corresponding gas lighter, which isembodied as a disposable lighter and in which the ignition spark isgenerated with the help of a small ignition wheel rubbing over a flint,is described in the patent specification DE OS 25 31 139.

The object of the present invention is to design a lighter such as theone mentioned heretofore in such a way that an Information Carrierbecomes automatically visible wholly or partly, as the fuel is consumedduring the use of the lighter.

This object is attained by a lighter having the characteristics of claim1.

The substantial advantage of the present invention is that theacceptance and usability, especially of disposable lighters, issubstantially increased by the fact that an Information Carrier, whichis arranged in the fuel tank of the inventive lighter and whichcontains, for example advertising texts, sayings, images or numbers,e.g. lot numbers, becomes visible during the consumption of the fuelprovided in the fuel tank. Therefore, the information provided on theInformation Carrier remains at first hidden to the user at the time ofthe purchase of the lighter, since this information is covered by thecolored fuel and is invisible. The interest of the user is aroused bythe fact that this information, which is initially hidden from him, isgradually made noticeable and visible only during the use of thelighter.

Advantageously, the inventive lighter can be manufactured relativelyeasily since it substantially corresponds to the known disposablelighters, wherein an Information Carrier is fixed only in the fuel tankin such a way that it is initially completely hidden by the coloredfuel. Substantial changes and/or modifications of the lighter itself arenot necessary.

The invention and the embodiments thereof are explained in more detailin the following in conjunction with the figures. The figuresillustrate:

FIG. 1 an inventive gas lighter, the fuel tank of which is completelyfilled with fuel;

FIG. 2 the gas lighter shown in FIG. 1, wherein the fuel is partlyconsumed and the information on the Information Carrier is partlyvisible;

FIG. 3 the inventive lighter, wherein the fuel is almost used up and theinformation on the Information Carrier is completely visible; and

FIG. 4 an improved configuration of the invention.

According to FIG. 1, the present lighter 1, which is preferably adisposable lighter, is made of a housing 3 comprising a fuel tank 2 anda lighter head 4 known per se, which comprises a burner device 6(illustrated only schematically) releasing the fuel 5 and an ignitiondevice 7 for generating a spark for igniting the released fuel 5.

It should be pointed out that the fuel 5 arranged in the fuel chamber 2could be liquefied gas, if the lighter 1 is embodied as a gas lighter.In this case, the burner device 6 has the form of a nozzle, which can beopened using an operating mechanism 8. The ignition device 7 cantherefore be a manually operable small ignition wheel, which rubs over aspringily pre-tensioned flint, in order to generate an ignition spark.However, it is just as well feasible that the ignition device 7 is anelectrical ignition device, for example a piezoelectric ignition device,which is operated manually for generating an ignition spark.

An inflammable liquid, for example, white gas, can also be arranged inthe fuel tank 2 as the fuel in place of liquefied gas, wherein the whitegas is guided to the burner device 6 in a manner, known per se, using awick or the like.

According to the present invention, the liquid fuel 5 present in thefuel tank 2, wherein said liquid fuel can be, for example, liquefied gasor white gas, and is colored in such a way that it allows theinformation present on an Information Carrier 9 arranged in the fuelchamber 2 to be noticed and/or become visible, only when said fuel isgradually consumed during the use of the lighter 1. In order for theInformation Carrier 9 and/or the information present thereon to becomevisible, the housing 3 is made to be transparent, e.g. from atransparent plastic material. Alternatively, if said housing 3 is notmade of a transparent material, it comprises a window 10, whichgradually releases the view of the Information Carrier as the fuel 5 isconsumed, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Preferably, the Information Carrier 9 has the form of a plastic disc, onwhich the information is imprinted, wherein said plastic disc is fixedsomewhat centrally in the fuel chamber with the help of a holding device(not illustrated in more detail). It is also feasible that theinformation is imprinted on a film or on paper glued onto theInformation Carrier.

The color of the information and/or of the Information Carrier 9 can becoordinated with the color and/or coloring of the fuel for achieving aparticularly good effect. It should be pointed out that the term “color”and/or “coloring” of the fuel is meant to connote all the modificationsof the fuel to the effect that the information is invisible at first.

1. Lighter comprising a housing (3) with a fuel tank (2), a lighter head(4) with a burner device (6) and an ignition device (7), said lighterbeing characterized in that, the fuel (5) located in the fuel tank (2)is embodied in such a way that information, provided on an InformationCarrier (9) arranged in the fuel tank (2), is at first hidden by thefuel (5) and is gradually made visible on use of the fuel (5). 2.Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel (5) iscolored.
 3. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that thehousing (3) is at least partly made of a transparent plastic material.4. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (3)comprises a window (10), which gradually releases a view of theInformation Carrier (9) as the fuel (5) is consumed.
 5. Lighteraccording to claim 1, characterized in that the Information Carrier (9)is held in the fuel tank (2) with the help of holding devices. 6.Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel (5) isliquefied gas.
 7. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe fuel (5) is white gas.
 8. Lighter according to claim 1,characterized in that it is embodied as a disposable lighter.
 9. Lighteraccording to claim 1, characterized in that the Information Carrier (9)has the form of a plastic part, on which the information is imprinted.10. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that the InformationCarrier (9) has the form of a plastic part, onto which a film carryingthe information or a paper sheet carrying the information is glued. 11.Lighter according to claim 9, characterized in that the plastic part isembodied discoidally.
 12. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized inthat the information is an image, an advertising text, an inscription, alot number or the like.
 13. Lighter according to claim 1, characterizedin that the color of the Information Carrier (9) and/or the informationis coordinated with the coloring of the fuel (5).